Getting from London to Glasgow by Bus
How to get to Glasgow from London with National Express buses
Updated January 2010
You can get from London to Glasgow (or Glasgow to London) by taking the National Express coaches. The journey is 8 hours and 20 minutes approx for the quickest direct buses. Travelling by National Express is the cheapest way to get from London to Glasgow in comfort with NX funfare tickets (very cheap tickets) starting at £12 one-way. Also check the London - Glasgow flights page for quicker travel.
Tickets and timetables for London - Glasgow coaches.
There are up to 6 coaches a day between London Victoria Coach Station (Buckingham Palace Road) and Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station (Killermont Street). There are three direct London - Glasgow buses a day (each way) while the other coaches are indirect National Express services via Birmingham (1 change).
All coach operators for this route
National Express and Megabus (very very cheap coach tickets but the coaches aren't as nice as the National Express ones) are the most popular coach companies operating direct services between London and Glasgow.
There is another overnight service operated by First Group. First Bus Nightflyer (also known as the London Express) departs Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow and arrives in London's Victoria coach station but tickets cost more than the funfares available with National Express.
Timetables for direct National Express buses
Direct buses from London to Glasgow (journey time 8 hours and 20 minutes approx)
| Weekdays | Weekend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||
| London to Glasgow (NX590) (departs at 09:00, arrives at 17:55) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| London to Glasgow (NX592, overnight) (departs at 22:30, arrives at 07:05) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| London to Glasgow (NX588, overnight) (departs at 23:00, arrives at 07:35) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
Direct buses from Glasgow to London (journey time 8 hours and 20 minutes approx)
| Weekdays | Weekend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||
| Glasgow to London (NX590) (departs at 11:00, arrives at 22:20) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Glasgow to London (NX588, overnight) (departs at 22:30, arrives at 06:50) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Glasgow to London (NX592, overnight) (departs at 22:30, arrives at 07:10) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
NOTE: the schedule of buses may change without notice. Please double check with the National Express for the latest travel times for getting to London or Glasgow.
There are no early morning buses but there are 2 late evening (overnight) and a mid-morning direct coach between London and Glasgow (each way). There are no other direct buses other than the National Express services listed above and any other available Megabus services. See below the section on non-direct buses.
Instant fares for cheap flights from London to Glasgow and Glasgow to London.
All Glasgow - London buses (National Express) with service times
Direct buses
Daytime coaches
- There is one direct daytime bus from Glasgow to London (bus service NX590) which departs Buchanan Bus Station at 11:00 and arrives at Victoria Coach Station at approx 22:20.
- There is one direct daytime coach from London to Glasgow (bus service NX590) which departs Victoria Coach Station at 09:00 and arrives at Buchanan Bus Station at approx 17:55.
Overnight coaches
- There are two direct overnight coaches from Glasgow to London (bus services NX588 and NX592) which depart Buchanan Bus Station at the same time 22:30 and arrive at Victoria Coach Station at approx 06:50 and 07:10 the following day, respectively.
- There are two direct overnight buses from London to Glasgow (bus services NX588 and NX592) which depart Victoria Coach Station at 22:30 and 23:00, respectively, and arrive at Buchanan Bus Station at approx 07:05 and 07:35 the following day, respectively.
Indirect buses
Daytime coaches
- There is only one indirect daytime coach from Glasgow to London (1 change in Birmingham). This is a morning bus departing Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow at 08:10 and arriving in London at 18:00 approx.
- There are two indirect daytime coaches from London to Glasgow (1 change in Birmingham). One is an early morning bus departing Victoria Coach Station in London at 07:00 and arriving in Glasgow at 17:40 approx, while the other one is a mid-morning coach leaving London at 10:30 and getting to Glasgow at 19:55.
Overnight coaches
- There is one indirect overnight coach from Glasgow to London (via Birmingham) which departs Buchanan Bus Station at the same time 23:00 and arrive at London Victoria Coach Station at approx 10:20 the following day.
- There is one indirect overnight bus from London to Glasgow (via Birmingham) which departs London Victoria Coach Station at 19:00 (evening) and arrives at Buchanan Bus Station at approx 06:15 (early morning) the following day.
How long does it take to get from London to Glasgow by bus
The direct buses take approx 8 hours and 20 minutes (overnight) but the the non-direct bus services to Buchanan Bus Station or London Victoria Coach Station include waiting times in Birmingham of around 20-60 mins and take up to 11 hours. Given the choice, always go for the direct coach services.
How much does the bus ticket from London to Glasgow cost
The London - Glasgow route is a National Express funfare route with bus fares for one-way journeys starting at £12 (check availability now). These cheap bus tickets (non-refundable) are available only online when you book in advance. Funfare prices are only available on direct bus journeys, all the more reason to avoid the coaches which change in Birmingham.
Make sure to book in advance for travel on busy periods like Bank Holidays, Half-Term, Christmas Holidays and New Year's.
National Express bus fares between London and Glasgow
The cheapest National Express tickets for the London coach are NX funfare tickets but you need to book these in advance.
Single fares
- EAS ticket: £31.80
- SAS ticket: £31.80
- Economy Apex single ticket: £35.30
- Standard single ticket: £35.30
- Best Deal, ideal for budget travellers - funfare ticket: from £12
Return fares
- Economy Apex return ticket: £36.50
- Economy return ticket: £44.80
- Standard advance return ticket: £40.00
- Standard return ticket: £50.60
- Best Deal, ideal for budget travellers - combined single NX funfare tickets (£24 cheapest)
Book London - Glasgow direct coach tickets
NOTE: Ticket prices may change without notice. Please double check with the National Express for up to date coach fares.
Where does the bus between London and Glasgow stop
Stops for direct buses
You can buy tickets for travel from any of these stops in Scotland or England to London or Glasgow.
- The direct National Express NX590 (daytime) bus goes via Milton Keynes and Carlisle. Full NX590 itinerary: Victoria Coach Station, Golders Green, Milton Keynes, Carlisle, Hamilton, Buchanan Bus Station.
- The direct National Express NX592 (overnight) bus goes via London Heathrow Airport and Carlisle. Full NX592 itinerary: Victoria Coach Station, London Heathrow Airport, Carlisle, Hamilton, Buchanan Bus Station.
- The direct National Express NX588 (overnight) bus goes via Milton Keynes and Lockerbie. Full NX588 itinerary: Victoria Coach Station, Golders Green, Milton Keynes, Penrith, Lockerbie, Buchanan Bus Station.
Stops for buses changing in Glasgow
- Victoria Coach Station, Golders Green, Coventry, Birmingham (change at Central Coach Station), Wolverhampton, Carlisle, Buchanan Bus Station; or
- Victoria Coach Station, Milton Keynes, Birmingham (change at Central Coach Station), Penrith, Carlisle, Buchanan Bus Station; or
- Victoria Coach Station, London (Marble Arch), Golders Green, Birmingham (change at Central Coach Station), Hanley (Stoke-on-Trent), Manchester (Central Coach Station and Manchester Airport), Salford, Preston, Lancaster, Carlisle, Buchanan Bus Station.
National Express coach services - Web links
Bus Tickets, Timetables and Journey Planner
Use the form to get timetables and tickets for coach trips from London to Glasgow or Glasgow to London and anywhere else in the UK. Alternatively, you can buy your ticket from Glasgow bus station or London Victoria Coach Station. Remember that the cheapest Glasgow - London bus tickets (funfare offers) are available ONLY online.
Address of London Victoria Coach Station
Coach Station in London for National Express coaches
164 Buckingham Palace Road
London
Postcode: SW1W 9TP
Tel: +44 (20) 7730 3466
Address of Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station
Bus Station in Glasgow for National Express coaches
Killermont Street
Glasgow
Scotland
Postcode: G2 3NP
Tel: +44 (141) 353 2141
Hotels in Glasgow or London
Glasgow Hotels
Discount Glasgow hotels and accommodation in the City Centre.
London Hotels
Discount London hotels and accommodation in Central London.
>> Back to Glasgow Travel Guide index